![\"Old](\"https:\/\/www.vintagetravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shutterstock_732149422-710x474.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFancy Christmas with a difference this year? Then why not head to the vibrant and picturesque lands of Istria…<\/p>\n
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If you thought Istria in northern Croatia was a summertime destination, you\u2019d be wrong. Compared to many parts of Europe, Istria tends to have milder winter temperatures and rarely has snow, which is great for those who don\u2019t dream of a white Christmas!<\/p>\n
From invigorating walks along one of the many beautiful beaches Istria is renowned for, to visiting the pretty hilltop towns this part of Croatia is home to without the crowds of the summer, Christmas can be the perfect time to soak up authentic Croatian life.<\/p>\n
And the locals certainly know how to celebrate and enjoy the festive season. Similar to the UK, Christmas in Istria is devoted to spending time with family and friends, and eating and indulging to excess.<\/p>\n
Many of the cities, towns and villages scattered across the region put on their own Christmas markets, selling locally-produced sausages and mulled wine on every corner!<\/p>\n
The captivating town of Brtonigla, in north-western Itria, plays hosts to a popular Christmas fair, where you\u2019ll find wines, local crafts, honey and many locally-created delicacies and treats, in abundance. Youngsters will also have the chance to visit Santa Claus and even take part in a cake -making competition in this bustling town over the festive period.<\/p>\n
Seafood lovers will be in for a treat, as Christmas Eve \u2013 known as Badnjak \u2013 is dedicated to eating fish, dried cod in particular. Though there are some pretty specific rules on how you must cook the cod. The \u2018bakalar\u2019 should be soaked for 24 hours and then prepared with potatoes, olive oil and garlic.<\/p>\n
Christmas Day is devoted to a meat feast, with turkey, roast pig and lamb being the main dishes on the table, served with salad, stuffed pepper and freshly-cooked bread. The principle festive dessert in Istria is known as fritule, bite-sized fruit fritters, with an orange and lemon flavoured zest, grape brandy and dark run, coated in a sprinkling of caster sugar.<\/p>\n
Yes, it\u2019s safe to say if you want to experience a Christmas like no other, Istria offers a world of festive magic for all the family to enjoy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fancy Christmas with a difference this year? Then why not head to the vibrant and picturesque lands of Istria…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[779,42],"tags":[924,824,884],"class_list":["post-7125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-holidays","category-things-to-do-in-istria","tag-christmas","tag-croatia","tag-istria"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n